Washboard.



No. 788,465. n PATENTED APB.. 25, 1905.

H. M. HAAS.

WASHBOARD.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 12.1904.

STATES Patented .April 25, 1905.

HAROLD IWI. HAAS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 788,465, dated .April 25, 1905.

Application filed July l2, 1904. Serial No. 216,247.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HAROLD M. IIAAs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Avondale, Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washboards, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in washboards; and it is more particularly an improvement upon the device described and claimed by lne in United States Iatent N o. 754,300.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby a cake of soap can be held within the upper portion of the washboard where it can be contacted by the clothes during the rubbing operation.

Another object is to provide means whereby the soap can be securely retained in position, said retaining means being removable to permit a new cake to be easily placed in position.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists of a washboard having an aperture adjacent one end thereof, in rear of which is located a holding-plate, which is mounted onv a bow-spring, which is normally under tension. This holding-plate is adapted to press a cake of soap through the aperture and against a retaining device which is mounted upon the front face of the washboard and extends across the opening. The retaining device has hooked ends which are adapted to extend through the washboard and engage the same so as to prevent displacement of the soap during the scrubbing operation.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved washboard.v Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig.. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the retaining` device.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 1 are the side strips of a washboard, the same being connected by a corrugated face 2, which extends upward to a head 3, having a preferably rectangular aperture 4 therein adjacent the corrugated face 2. Secured to the side strips at opposite sides of aperture 4 is a cross-strip 6, which extends in rear of the aperture. This cross-strip has inwardly-extending pins 7 thereon, which project through slots 8, formed in the ends of a bow-spring 9. A holding-plate 10 is secured to the center of the bow-spring and directly in rear of the aperture 4 and is adapted to press a cake of soap 11 into said aperture. Eyes 12 are secured to head 3 adjacent its upper end, and pivoted therein is the intermediate portion of a U-shaped retaining device 13, which extends across aperture 4. Each end of this retaining device is bent to form an L-shaped extension 14, which is arranged at right angles to the main portion of the retaining device, and these extensions are adapted to project through slots 15, formed in head 3 adjacent aperture 4. The retaining device is preferably formed of spring metal which will not corrode, and the extensions 14 are adapted to normally overlap the outer ends of slots 15, and thereby lock the retaining device in position over aperture 4.

When it is desired to place a cake of soap within the aperture 4, the ends of the retaining device 13 are drawn toward each other, so as to release the extensions 14 from engagement with the ends ofy slots 15. Said extensions can then be removed from the slots and the retaining device can be swung from aperture 4. The cake of soap can then be inserted in the front of said aperture and will contact with plate 10. When this plate is forced backward, 4it tensions spring 9, and by swinging the retaining device 13 over aperture 4 and placing its ends again in engagement with the ends of slots 15 the cake 11 is retained in place and the spring 9 is held under tension. By rubbing the clothes over the soap occasionally during the scrubbing operation the same can be kept well supplied, and as the face of the cake wears away the tension-spring 9 will press it forward until finally the entire cake has been consumed.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit'myself thereto, as I am aware that IOO modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve thc right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is# l. A washboard having an aperture therethrough, a spring-pressure device in rear of the aperture, and a retaining member pivoted at one end to the front face of the board and having means at its other end for detachable engagement with the board, said device being adapted to overlie the aperture.

2. A washboard having an aperture formed therethrough, a springpressure device arranged in rear of the aperture, and a retaining device adapted to overlie the front face of the aperture, said retaining device 4cornprising a U-shaped member having its crown portion pivotally connected with the board and the terminals of its arms formed for detachable engagement with the latter.

3. A washboard having an aperture formed therethrough and provided with a pair of spaced slots arranged at one side of the aperture, a spring-pressure device disposed in rear of the aperture, and a retaining device designed to extend across the front face of the aperture, said retaining device comprising a substantially U-shaped member and its crown portion pivotally connected with the board and the terminals of its arms angularly bent for engagement respectively with the slots.

In testimony whereof I afx mv signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD M. HAAS.

Vitnesses:

DAVID L. HEY, JAMES Hoorun. 

